Whiting: After tragedies, deputies still give blood

Feb. 15, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Orange County Sheriffs Deputy A. Cardona reads as Red Cross tech Chris Kaneshiro draws blood during a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The 7th annual blood drive is a competition between local organizations for the most donors. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Orange County Sheriff's deputies donate blood during a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The 7th annual blood drive is a competition between local organizations for the most donors. Their goal was to get 5,500 donors during the month-long event. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Orange County Sheriffs Deputy William Gibson gives blood at a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The 7th annual blood drive is a competition between local organizations for the most donors. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Blood is processed by Red Cross staff during a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The 7th annual blood drive is a competition between local organizations for the most donors. Their goal was to get 5,500 donors during the month-long event. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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An Orange County sheriffs deputy finishes giving blood at a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday as the funeral of Riverside Police Department Officer Michael Crain plays on a television. Crain is believed to have been shot and killed in an ambush by ex-Los Angeles Officer Christopher Dorner. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Orange County Sheriffs Deputy Pete Chavez talks with Red Cross staff while giving blood at a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The 7th annual blood drive is a competition between local organizations for the most donors. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Orange County Sheriffs Deputy A. Cardona reads as Red Cross tech Chris Kaneshiro draws blood during a Battle of the Badges event in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The 7th annual blood drive is a competition between local organizations for the most donors.PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

For men and women in law enforcement, blood on the ground isn't too much. There's always more to give.

It's Thursday and thousands gather in and around Grove Community Church in Riverside. The wife of slain Officer Michael Crain walks to the altar and shares the loss of her husband, believed to be killed by Christopher Dorner.

At the same moment as Regina Crain stands with her children before a flag-draped coffin, a never-ending stream of Orange County sheriff's deputies flows through the Central Jail in Santa Ana for a blood drive.

Understand, the drive isn't for the officers wounded during the rampage. This blood is for all of us.

The event is called Battle of the Badges, an annual competition involving dozens of departments and thousands of officers competing to collect the most pints for the Red Cross. With two slain officers in one week, it would be understandable if the blood drive was canceled.

But making a stand for something pure in the face of evil is what law enforcement is about. Deputy Mike Winger, a 17-year veteran who grew up in Dana Point, describes recent events this way: "It's been horrible, terrible.

"But people need the blood and it's the right thing to do. Our job is to help the community."

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The atmosphere in the room dedicated to the blood drive is a strange combination of festival and funeral.

The king from Medieval Times makes balloon figures. Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz arrives with give-aways. Los Angeles Kings cheerleaders known as the Ice Crew stroll through in midriff-baring uniforms.

The celebrity guests have been scheduled for weeks and volunteer their time. And their presence makes a difference and is much appreciated. Still, this year's drive is like no other.

Black bands over deputies' shields honor the fallen.

Ortiz, a hulking and humble Huntington Beach resident, takes care to introduce himself to everyone. He understands. He quietly tells me: "I'm here to raise awareness for the American Red Cross. This is about saving lives."

I sit down with Deputy Ken Trautman, who has just given blood, and ask about the past week. Trautman sucks in his breath and says, "That's a personal question."

His comment is revealing. When a brother officer goes down, it's not simply a loss to the profession. It's a loss to the family that is law enforcement.

We sit in silence for a while. Trautman stares ahead, searching for the right words. "Law enforcement in general feels really sad over the loss of life," he says. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends that were affected."

Next to the table, there's a big cart with eight boxes about 2-foot square. Each box is filled with plastic bags of donated blood.

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Deputy Curtis Vincent is responsible for making the blood drive happen. He joined the Sheriff's Department in 1986 after serving as a Torrance police officer, has been an official blood drive ambassador for 14 years and, at the suggestion of the Red Cross, joined Battle of the Badges in Orange County five years ago.

As a Kings cheerleader drops by to pick up a slice of pizza, I ask Vincent why he gives his time to lead the drive. The deputy explains he's witnessed the need for blood first hand, that his grandfather had cancer and that a deputy he knew was severely injured in a motorcycle crash.

Then the deputy pauses and glances down. He says: "My brother needed blood, too. He had AIDS."

Vincent's professional and deeply personal reasons are echoed by others and remind me that behind every shrouded badge is someone with the same struggles we all face.

Deputy Katie Macy shares that when she was 8 years old, her mother died of cancer. She gives her blood because "with everything going on, it reminds you there are others out there."

I ask what it's like with two officers buried, a young couple killed in Irvine and several officers injured. Macy sums it up in a single word.

"Heartbreaking."

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Still, the blood drive goes on and Vincent is determined the Orange County Sheriff's Department will win – just as he is every year.

Several years ago, Orange County edged out Riverside. The following year, Riverside edged out Orange County. But last year, as Vincent puts it, "We went all out."

Typically, 125 pints is a strong showing. In 2012, Orange County deputies gave 186 pints.

As we talk, there's one more collection on Friday. Vincent says the department might even break last year's record – despite the circumstances.

"All of us have been on edge," Vincent confesses. "We're vigilant just walking to and from the car. You can't take anything for granted."

I talk to 19-year-old sheriff's explorer Jatziti Navarro about the blood drive. She calls it "a good cause" and goes deeper into what it means to be a member of the law-enforcement family.

"I love what I do and the career I chose," the Orange resident says. Of the shootings, Navarro explains, "It makes us stronger and want to do more to stop these people who do bad things in the community."

As Navarro talks, Officer Crain's widow fights back tears at the church in Riverside. She tells the crowd, "I did not realize the sheer scale of this and how many people are touched by his life.

"It gives me really great comfort to see that," she says, her voice cracking. "And I want to thank you all."

As I leave the jail in Santa Ana, three more deputies arrive and lie down on cots to donate.

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